Futen'ō Izumi | |
---|---|
普天王 水 | |
Personal information | |
Born | Izumi Uchida August 28, 1980 Kumamoto, Japan |
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
Weight | 150 kg (330 lb) |
Web presence | website |
Career | |
Stable | Dewanoumi |
University | Nihon University |
Record | 326-347-14 |
Debut | January, 2003 |
Highest rank | Komusubi (September 2005) |
Retired | May, 2011 |
Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (1) Technique (1) |
Futen'ō Izumi (born August 28, 1980 as Izumi Uchida in Tensui, Tamana District, Kumamoto, Japan), is a former sumo wrestler. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 2003, reaching the top division the following year. He earned two special prizes. His highest rank was komusubi, which he held for one tournament. He retired in May 2011 after falling down the banzuke to the third makushita division. He is now a sumo coach.
He was born to a family of orange farmers. He had loved sumo since elementary school and had the full support of his parents in turning professional, although his father wished him to complete his education first. After finishing high school he went to Nihon University, where he gained the amateur equivalent of the yokozuna title, winning the All Japan Championship in 2000 and the Kokutai (Japan Games) in 2002.
Futen'ō entered professional sumo in January 2003. He joined Dewanoumi stable, one of the most prestigious heya in sumo. Its longstanding history was one of the reasons he chose that particular stable. Because of his amateur achievements he was given makushita tsukedashi status and so was allowed to leapfrog the lower divisions, beginning his career as a makushita (third division) wrestler at the rank of makushita 15. He was runner-up in his first tournament, only losing on a tie-break after a 6-1 result. He was promoted to jūryō after only two tournaments, and the makuuchi division five tournaments later, in March 2004.